We are all about the fans here at On Soccer, so I’ve got some folks I want everyone to meet.

The Voyageurs are the official supporters’ organization for Canada’s national soccer teams. They span the country, and they travel – Scotland, Northern Ireland, Malta – to make sure there are red shirts and waving maple leafs wherever our top-level lads and lasses turn up to play.

In the pre-Internet days, this would be a difficult group to organize.  But now, they have a strong web presence, and have become a source soccer writers need to consult – with a voice capable of creating significant change.

Whatever new form soccer governance takes in this country in the uncertain months to follow, the Voyaguers will certainly have their say.
 
But now, as 2007 winds down, they are reaching out to the greater Canadian community, asking for input on the Canadian international soccer player of the year.  They hand out awards, you see.  For the past several seasons, there’s been a Voyaguers Cup for the Canadian pro team with the best record against their Canuck counterparts. (Until Montreal and Vancouver find their way into MLS, this is the main reason we need regular friendly matches between the Impact, Whitecaps and Toronto FC.)
 
Now.  Voting:
 
All you need to do is decide which player – who made at least one appearance for the Canadian men’s World Cup team – had the best season or made the biggest contribution in 2007.  Then you click here to join the discussion thread and cast your vote.

Among the nominees …
 
- Dwayne de Rosario, lethal attacking midfielder who really got it done in the final as his Houston Dynamo downed the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup final – for the second year in a row.
 
- Pat Onstad, ageless goaltender, also with Houston, who parked the best year any MLS goalie has ever had – 0.82 goals-against average – at 39!
 
- Rob Friend, dangerous striker, already into double-digit goals in the German second division as Borussia Monchengladbach look set to storm back into the Bundesliga top flight.
 
- Julian de Guzman, with two blazing goals from the midfield as Canada scored a solid win over arch-rivals Costa Rica at the 2007 Gold Cup.
 
Me?  I’m voting for de Guzman.  He was brilliant against Costa Rica, and his rapid-fire goals – highlight-reel screamers, the pair of them – came just after Canada had fallen behind in the second half.  His club side (Spain’s Deportivo La Coruna) may be struggling, but de Guzman is a major talent with a bright, exciting future in the game.
 
Also, you never know when a player might happen to have a brother, who just happens to be one of the finest young players in Europe, who is still eligible to play internationally for Canada, who couldn’t help but notice if his beloved brother Julian is named Player of the Year by Canada’s exceptionally perceptive soccer fans.
 
(Wink, wink.)
 
If you’ve never been to the Voyageurs’ site, you’ll meet some very knowledgable and passionate fans there.  If you really want to understand the Canadian soccer scene, this is one place you have to visit regularly.
 
Merry Christmas to Voyageurs everywhere!
 
Onward!